Method and apparatus for making books including a book block bonded to a book cover board structure

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for making books including a book block bonded to a book cover board structure includes a continuous conveyor onto which is placed a linear array of book cover board structures. Each structure includes two leaf boards which are hinged together, and the board structure is disposed in a horizontal open position to enable the application of adhesive material to the upper surface of the board structure. The structure is then pre-bent about the hinged portion, after which additional adhesive is applied to the hinged portion of the board structure. At the next stage in the operation, a book block is placed on one leaf portion of the board structure, after which the other leaf portion is folded so as to cover the book block. The final step in the process is the bonding of the board structure to the book block.

United States Patent 1191 Carter etal. 1 51 Jan. 9, 1973 54 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR 2,640,208 6/1953 De Florez et al. ..11 3 x MAKING BOOKSINCLUDING A OO 2,777,562 1 1957 McCahon et a1. ..11 3 x BLOCK BONDED TOA BOOK COVER BOARD STRUCTURE [75] Inventors: Leewood C. Carter, WarrenTwsp.; Edward K. Mullen, Westfield; Anthony J. Davanzo, Essex Fells, allof NJ.

[73] Assignee: Book Covers, lnc., Newark, NJ.

[22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 [21] Appl, No.: 117,578

[52] US. Cl ..ll/3,1l/5 [51] Int. Cl. ..B42c 11/00, B42c 5/02 [58] Fieldof Search ..1 1/3, 4, 5,1R,1CP

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,711,363 4/1929 Pleger ..1..1 l/4 3,273,913 9/1966 Mullen et a1. 1,867,803 7/1932 Bredenberg ..1III R Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Thomas M. Marshall [57]ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for making books including a I bookblock bonded to a book cover board structure includes a continuousconveyor onto which is placed a linear array of book cover boardstructures. Each structure includes two leaf boards which are hingedtogether, and the board structure is disposed in a horizontal openposition to enable the application'of adhesive material to the uppersurface of the board structure. The structure is then pre-bent about thehinged portion, after which additional adhesive is applied to the hingedportion of the board structure. At the next stage in the operation, abook block is placed on one leaf portion of the board structure, afterwhich the other leaf portion is folded so as to cover the book block.The final step in the process is the bonding of the board structure tothe book block.

A; 7/20 8, HEATING 174 /70 SOURCE PATENTED JAN 9 I975 SHEET 1 BF 2INVENTORS ZEEW000 CARTER EDWARD MULLEN BY AA/THONY J: DAVAIVZD ATTOPNZYPATENTEDJAN 9 ms INVENTORS ZEE'IVOOD C. CARTER SHEET 2 BF 2 EPWAW 1!- ULIV BY ANT/IOU! J: DAVA/YZU w Ari 044G METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKINGBOOKS INCLUDING A BOOK BLOCK BONDED TO A BOOK COVER BOARD STRUCTURE Thisinvention relates to books, and more particularly books formed bybonding a book block to a book cover board structure.

In the manufacture of inexpensively bound hard cover books, such aschildrens books, recipe books, and the like, minimizing the cost ofmanufacturing is a paramount consideration. To this end, the book makingindustry has turned to a bonding technique employing adhesive materialsto bind the book block, i.e., the pages of the book which are normallybound together along a common fold line, to the book cover boardstructure. Prior art techniques employed staples or stitching to formthe binding for such books.

In order to further reduce the cost of forming books, the industry hasdeveloped book cover board structures, such as disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,273,913 entitled Book Cover Boards And Board Structures And ApparatusAnd Method For Making The Same, which issued on Sept. 20, 1966 to Mullenet al. and was assigned to the assignee of the present application. Abook cover board structure is characterized as comprising a spine board,two leaf boards, each in spaced relation to the spine board, and a stripof hinge material joining the leaf and spine boards. As previouslymentioned, the book block comprises a series of pages which areinterconnected along a common fold line, such as by stapling orstitching.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus formaking books including a book block bonded to a book cover boardstructure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for making books of the kind described in the first-recitedobject in a continuous process thereby greatly reducing the cost ofassembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusfor making a book of the kind described in the first-recited object inwhich the book cover board structures are conveyed in a continuousmanner and covered on one side with an adhesive material by an oversetglue roll apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusfor making a book of the kind described in the. first-recited object inwhich the book block is automatically aligned and precisely positionedon the book cover board structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method and apparatusfor forming a book of the kind described in the first-recited object inwhich the leaf portions of the book cover board structure are positionedabout the book block, after which the composite structure is subjectedto pressure in order to make the book.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book makingapparatus which is adapted to be fed with a succession of book coverboard structures in linear array, each board structure being in the openplanar condition; to be coated with a thin layer of adhesive material onthe upper surface thereof; to be fed further with a succession of bookblocks, one book block for eachbook cover board structure, with the bookblocks being placed onto one of the leaf boards of the book cover boardstructure; to fold the other leaf of the book cover board structureabout its spine so as to cover the book block; to bond the book coverboard structure to said book block so as to complete the making of thebook.

It is another object of this invention to provide abook making apparatusof this kind described in the foregoing object which is further adaptedto pre-bend the book cover board structure about its spine subsequent tothe application of the adhesive material; and to subsequently spray acoating of adhesive material to the spine portion of the book blockafter the pre-bending thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book making methodincluding the steps of conveying a succession of book cover boardstructure in linear array, with each book cover board structure beingopen and in planar configuration; applying adhesive to the upper surfaceof the book cover board structure; conveying a succession of book blocksand placing each successive book block onto one leaf of the book coverboard structure; folding the second leaf board portion about the hingedspine board portion of the book cover board structure to cover the bookblock; and bonding the book cover board structure to said book block tocomplete the assembly of the book.

It is another object of this invention to provide a book making methodof the kind described in the foregoing object which further includes thestep'of'prebending the book cover board structure subsequent to theapplication of glue to said board structure, and further selectivelyspraying adhesive material in the region of the spine area afterpre-bending the boar structure.

The nature and substance of this invention as well as its objects andadvantages will be more clearly recognized and fully understood byreferring to the following description and claims taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a plan view of the book making apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 represents a view in longitudinal sectional elevation of the bookmaking apparatus of this invention from its loading end up to thedischarge end;

FIG. 3 represents a partial sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1and illustrating the apparatus for pre-bending the book covers;

FIG. 4 represents a view taken at line 44 in FIG. 1 and illustrates theadhesive spraying apparatus;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view taken at line 55 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial plan view of the book making apparatus ofthe subject invention taken at line 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view taken at line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a view taken at line 88 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the assembly of abook consisting of a book block and a cover board structure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view ofa completely assembled bookmade according to the teachings of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a partial sectional view taken at line 11-11 in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a view taken at line 12-12 in FIG.

1; and

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternate form of folding means of the bookmaking apparatus of the subject invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, especially to FIGS. 1 and 2,the apparatus of the invention comprises two side plate assembly 10 and11 which are maintained in spaced, and substantially parallel relationby means of a plurality of cross bars or cross ties (not shown) andwhich are supported above the level of the floor 12 by means of aplurality of leg members (not shown). The side plates provide bearingsand retaining means for the various rolls, devices, and drive assembliesmaking up the apparatus of the subject invention as more fully describedhereinafter.

The side plates 10 and 11 are notched to provide bearings and retainingsurfaces for the belt rolls 13 ofa conveyor C consisting of threeparallel drive belts 17, 18, and 19 (see FIGS. 4 and Each of the belts17, 18, 19 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced upstandingpins or studs 20. The studs on the drive belts l7, l8, and 19 arealigned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus of thesubject invention in order to insure the precise and uniformregistration of the book covers and book blocks during operation of theapparatus, as more fully described hereinafter.

Before describing the apparatus of the subject invention, reference ismade to FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 which illustrate the type of book madeaccording to the method and apparatus of the subject invention. In theexploded perspective view of FIG. 9., a book cover board structure 30 isdefined by two leaf board portions 31, a spine board portion 32, andhinge material portions 33 which join the spine portion to the leafboard portions. The book cover board structure may be completely encasedwith a decorative cover 34, or alternatively the decorative cover maycomprise, as illustrated, the hinge portions between the spine board andthe leaf boards. The book block 35 consists of a plurality of sheetswhich are folded about a common fold line 36. In order to form thebooks, the outermost sheets of the book block are bonded to the insidesurfaces of the leaf boards 31, with the spine 32 of the book coverboard structure being bonded to the fold line of book block 35. In orderto provide a defined straight line fold joint for the cover board, andto increase the flexibility of the leaf boards, while adding additionalrigidity to the bond between the book block and the book cover boardstructure, it is desirable to provide an accentuated crease 40 (FIGS.and 11) in the vicinity of the spine and hinge portions.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2, disposed at the extreme left end of thesubject apparatus is a feeding meansfor successively feeding the bookcover-board structures. The feeding means comprises a hopper 50 ofapproximately the size of the book cover board structures when inhorizontal planar disposition, with the inside surfaces of the bookcover board structures facing upwardly. The book cover board structuresare fed from the hopper 50 by means of an actuating device in the formof piston 51'to which is attached an L-shaped plate 52 that is adaptedto slide under the hopper 50 to .force the lowermost book cover boardstructure out of the hopper and into the nip of a pair of pull rollers'53 which are supported between side plates 10 and 11.,

The pull rollers 53 are spaced to engage one book cover board structureat a time and convey the removed book cover board structure onto theconveyor C. At such time, three of the aligned pins 20 mountedrespectively on the drive belts 17, 18 and 19 would convey the open bookcover board structure along the conveyor C.

Each of the open book cover board structures being conveyed on theconveyor C passes beneath an arrangement of glue rolls 60, 61, and 62.Glue roll is' partially immersed in a body of liquid glue of anysuitable kind contained in a trough 66 which is supported between theside plates 10 and 11 by a suitable bracket means (not shown). As theglue rolls are rotated, the first roll 60 picks up a layer of liquidadhesive material from the body of glue within trough 66. The glue rollshave at least a slight separation which is desirable subject to someadjustment through vertically shiftable mountings of the rolls in theside plates 10 and 11. At least some of the layer of glue on the firstroll 60 is transferred onto the second roll 61 and thence to the mainglue roll 62 in the course of the rolls rotation. The greater theseparation of the glue rolls, up to a point, the greater is the amountof glue transferred from the first onto the last roll. As the open bookcover board structure passes under the roll 62, there is a furthertransfer of glue from this roll onto the upper surface of the book coverboard structure, and in particular, onto the upper surface of the leafboards 31 and the spine board 32.

The glue-coated book cover board structure is then conveyed in acontinuous manner" to a device 70 for pre-bending the book cover boardstructure about the hinge portions 33. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and3, the device 70 for pre-bending the book cover board structure includesan elongated bar 71 mounted below the conveyor C and of a widthgenerally corresponding to the width of the spine 32 of the cover board.The bar 71 is inclined upwardly in the direction of movement of thecover board. Mounted above the conveyor between the side plates 10 and11, and on opposite sides of the bar 71 are downwardly inclined bars 72,73. The latter are spaced and inclined to gradually engage the hinge,

portions 33, 33 of the cover board structures being conveyed on conveyorC. As a cover board passes between the pre-bending device, the spineportion of the cover board is gradually and temporarily bent. Ifdesired, the lower bar 71 may be heated to further aid in flexing andbending of the spine portion. The primary purpose of the pre-bendingdevice 70 as embodied in the subject apparatus is to facilitate thefolding of the leaf boards, as more fully described hereinafter, andalso in the formation of the crease 40 in the resulting book. It isnoted that the pre-bending device may not be essential forthe formationof a book according to the method and apparatus of the subject inventionwhen very flexible material is used for forming the hinge portions ofthe cover structure.

After leaving the pre-bending device 70, the .open, glued cover boardstructure passes beneath'a joint adhesive gun or sprayer for selectivelyspraying adhesive material in the vicinity of the spine and the hingeportions of the cover board structure. The sprayer 80 is mounted inoverset relationship with respect to the conveyor C and is supported bya suitable bracket whereby adhesive material is sprayed only when a bookcover passes below the sprayer. It is readily apparent that, through theuse of suitable microswitches and conventional electrical actuatingequipment, well known to those skilled in the art, the apparatus of thesubject invention may include inter-related and coordinated electricaland air controlled means to ensure that the spray apparatus 80 is notactuated unless a book cover board structure is present. This isillustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 wherein the subject apparatus includes apair of microswitches 81, 81 which are connected via electrical leads 82to the spraying apparatus 80. The latter is of a commercially availablenature, and generally includes air operated means for spraying theadhesive material, with the operation of the air operating means beingcontrolled by the output signals from the microswitches 81, 81 in suchmanner that the spraying apparatus 80 is only actuated when a book coveris disposed below said apparatus.

Following the selective spraying of the spine and hinge portions of thecover board, the latter continues on its path along the conveyor untilit reaches the next station where a book block is placed on one leafboard of the book cover board structure. More particularly, mounted inoverset relation to the conveyor C is a hopper 90 for accommodating thebook blocks 35. The lowermost book block in the hopper is fed from thehopper 90 by means of an actuating piston 91 to which is connected anL-shaped shuttle 92 which pushes the lowermost book block into the nipofa pair of pull rollers 95 mounted between the side plates and 11.Before a book block is allowed to drop by gravity feed onto a book coverboard structure, it is first passed by the pull rollers through analignment and insert device 100 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) including a T-shapedsupport 101 and a U-shaped support 102 disposedin overset relation tothe conveyor. Spring guide fingers 103 are fixed to support 101 andcooperate with the U-shaped support 102 to precisely locate and alignthe book blocks with respect to the conveyor, and more particularly,with respect to one leaf board 31 of each book cover board structurepassing on the conveyor. As the pull rollers 95 cause each successivebook block to drop onto the flanges of the supports 101 and 102, thestuds 20 of the conveyor engage the edge of the book block therebyensuring longitudinal alignment between the book block and the bookcover board structure. Translational alignment is achieved by means ofthe spring fingers 103 in cooperation with support 102.

In addition .to ensuring longitudinal alignment between the book blockand board cover, the studs also function to precisely locate the bookblock at a predetermined position on the cover structure. Referring' toFIG. 12, eachstud 20 is generally cylindrical in configuration andincludes a recessed segment'21 along the surface thereof which engagesthe cover structure 31. Accordingly, the book block 35 is positioned bythe studs 20 a short distance, e.g. one-eighth of an inch, inside of themargin of the cover structure 31.

As is readily apparent, as the conveyor continues along its path, eachsuccessive book block drops onto a leaf board of each successive bookcover board structure in a continuous operation.

The next operation in the apparatus and method of the subject inventionis to cause the second leaf board structure to be folded about the spineand hinge pore tions so as to overlie the book block. For this purpose,

the apparatus is provided with a folding means in the form of acontoured bar (see FIG. 7) which is fixedly mounted as at 111 below theconveyor C between the drive belts 8 and 19 to fixed structure. Thecontoured bar is doubly curved upwardly and transversely in thedirection of the drive belts 17 and 18, with the extreme free end of thebar 110 extended beyond an imaginary vertical plane passing through thecenter of the spine of the cover board. As a book cover board structureis conveyed along the conveyor C, the second leaf board, that is theleaf board which is not covered by the book block, is caused to ridealong the contour of the doubly curved bar 110 and to thereby be rotatedabout the spine and hinge portions of the cover board structure. In thatthe contoured bar 110 extends beyond the imaginary vertical planepassing through the spine board, the second leaf board is caused torotate more than 180 and to effectively flop over onto the book blockthereby completing the composite structure of the book block and bookcover board structure.

Other devices may also be employed for folding the second leaf boardstructure about the spine and hinge portions so as to overlie the bookblock. For instance, the folding means may take the form of a pivotallymounted finger 114 adapted for rotation about an axis 116 aligned withthe center line of the apparatus of the subject invention, and having atits extreme free end a roller 118 having an axis 119 transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the apparatus so as to aid in the conveying of thebook cover board structure and book block as the second leaf board isbeing folded about the spine portions. Of primary concern is to maintainmovement of the conveyor without causing misalignment of the book coverboard structures during the operation of the apparatus.

At this time it is necessary to form a permanent bond between theoutside sheets of the book block and the adhesively coated inside leafboard structures and spine. This is known in'the industry as casing-in.

To this end, the composite structure is conveyed by the conveyor C to apair of pull rollers 120 mounted between side plates 10 and 11. The pullrollers 120 convey the successive composite book structures to a pair ofpressure rollers which are of a width less than the width of each leafboard so as to not apply pressure to hinge portions 33. The applicationof pressure to the composite structure forms a permanent bond betweenthe book block and the cover board structure, and if desired, one orboth rollers 130 may be heated to further facilitate the formation ofthe permanent bond. 7

The next step in the operation is the building-in step, or the step inwhich the accentuated crease 40 may be formed in the book block. To thisend, each successive book is then conveyed to the building-in apparatus,illustrated in FIG. 8, as comprising a stationary lower die 141 having arounded projection 142, and a movable upper die 143, also including arounded projection 144 which is aligned with rounded projection 142.Both rounded projections 142 and 144 extend in a line and are operativeto form the accentuated crease 40 in the resulting book. The operationof apparatus is coordinated with the operation of the conveyor C and thepressure rolls 130, and either pressure or heat and pressure are appliedby the building-in apparatus to form the accentuated crease between thebook block and the cover board structure. After the bonding cycle hasbeen effected, the movable upper die 143 is retracted upwardly, and anejection mechanism in the form of an actuator 150 including a bluntended ram 151 is actuated to force the completed structure into acollecting bin 160, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The operation of the various stages forming the apparatus of the subjectinvention are effected in a coordinated and adjustable speed, therebygreatly reducing the cost of making books.

In summary, the method for making books according to the subjectinvention includes the' steps of feeding a book cover board structure inopen planar position, applying adhesive material to one leaf of thecover board structure, pre-bending the book cover board structure aboutits hinged portion, selectively applying adhesive in the vicinity of thehinged portion of the book cover board structure, precisely locating abook block onto one of the leaf boards of the cover structure, foldingthe other leaf board about the hinged portion to form a compositeassembly of the book block and the book cover board structure, andapplying heat and pressure to the composite structure to form the book.If desired, the steps of pre-bending the cover board structure andselectively applying adhesive material may be eliminated.

The apparatus and method of the subject invention provides several novelfeatures including the hopper feeding of both the book blocks and thebook cover board structures into a coordinated production line whichensures continuous and consistent production. The unique application ofadhesive to the book cover board structure via a top gluer requiresminimal movement of the book cover board parts prior to assembly. Alsopre-forming or pre-bending of the book cover board structure permits thecover structure to be automatically turned with the minimum of effortand in the shortest distance possible.

The unique design and use of off-set studs on the conveyor chaincarrying the book cover board structures to the point of registrationwith the book block ensures a precise and uniform registration of thebook block on the adhesively coated book cover board structure.Furthermore, the inter-related and coordinated electrical and aircontrols provided in the subject apparatus will ensure thatthe adhesivesprayer 80 is not actuated unless the book cover board structure ispresent, and a book block is not released unless a book cover boardstructure is located at the precise registration point. The foldingmeans, forming a portion of the subject apparatus, ensures consistencyof operation and minimum possibility of book distortion while adhesivedrying is taking place.

The unique design and use of an alignment and insert device to ensurethat the book blocks are precisely registered on the book cover boardstructures greatly enhances the reliability and speed of making booksaccording to the method and apparatus of the subject invention. Ifdesired, a heating means may be provided below the conveyor in thevicinity of the alignment and insert device in order to heat the spineportion of the book cover preparatory to folding of the second leafboard. As illustrated in FIG. 2, electrical heating means 170 areprovided, and suitably connected to'a heating element 172 disposed belowthe conveyor C in order to heat the spine portion 'of the book coverspreparatory to folding of the second leaf board. In addition, theelectrical heating means 170 is suitably connected by conduit 174 to thelower bar 71 of the pre-bending device in order to heat same for aidingin the flexing and bending of the spine portion of the book. Inaddition, the electrical heating means is connected by line 176 to therollers to facilitate the formation of the permanent bond of theresulting book made according to the teaching of the subject invention.

It is intended to secure protection by Letters Patents to the fullextent that the prior art permits ofthis invention in all its aspects ofapparatus and method for making books as these aspects are defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for making books including a book block bonded to a bookcover board structure, said method comprising the steps of; I

l. conveying a succession of book cover board structures in opencondition and in linear array, each such book cover board structurecomprising a firstleaf board portion, a second leaf board portion, and aspine board portion disposed between said first and second leaf boardportions and in hinged relation thereto; i

2. applying adhesive material to the entire surface of one side of thebook cover board structures successively as they are conveyed; 1

3. pre-bending the book cover board structures about the hinged portionsintermediate the spine board portion and the first and second leaf boardportions;

4. selectively applying adhesive material to said spine board portionand said hinged portion;

5. conveying a succession of book blocks and placing each successivebook block onto a book cover board structure as in the preceeding stephereof in parallel relation with the first leaf board thereof;

6. folding the second leaf board portion about the hinged spine boardportion to cover the book block; and

7. bonding the first and second leaf board portions and the spine boardportion of said book cover board structure to said book block.

2..A method for making books according to claim 1 in which the step ofapplying adhesive material to one side of the book cover board structureis effected by rolling a thin layer of adhesive material onto the bookcover board structure.

3. A method for making books according to claim 1 in which the step ofapplying adhesive material to said hinged portions is effected byspraying. r

4. A method for making books according to claim 1 in which the step ofbonding the book cover board structure to the book block is effected bypassing the book block and cover board structure through a pair of pressrolls.

5 A method for making books according to claim I in which the step ofbonding the book cover board structure to the bookblock is effected bypassing the book block and book cover board structures through a pair ofheated press rolls.

6. A method for making books including a book block bonded to a bookcover board structure, said method comprising the steps of:

l. conveying a succession of book cover board structures in opencondition and in linear array, each such book cover board structurecomprising a first leaf board portion, a second leaf board portion, anda spine board portion disposed between said first and second leaf boardportions and connected thereto by hinged portions;

2. applying a thin layer of adhesive material to the entire upper sideof the book cover board structure successively as they are conveyed;

3. temporarily bending each successive book cover board structure aboutsaid hinged portions;

4. selectively applying adhesive material to said spine board portionand said hinged portions;

5. aligning and placing a book block on the first leaf board structureof each successive book cover board structure, each book blockcomprising a plurality of pages folded about and connected along acommon fold line, with said fold line being generally parallel to thespine portion of the associated book cover board structure;

6. rotating the second leaf board portion approximately 180% about thehinged spine board portion to thereby cover the book block; and Y 7.bonding the first and second leaf board portions and the spine boardportion of said book cover board structure to said book block.

7. A method for making books according to claim 6 wherein pressure isalso applied along the hinged portion of the cover board during bondingof the book cover board structure to said book block in order toaccentuate a crease at the spine of the book.

8. A method for making books as in claim 6 wherein the adhesive materialis applied to the hinged portions by spraying.

9. A method for making books according to claim 6 wherein the thin layerof adhesive material is applied to the upper side of the book coverboard structure by rolling.

10. An apparatus for making books including a book block bonded to abook cover board structure, said apparatus comprising:

1. conveyor means for conveying a succession of book cover boardstructures in open horizontal position and in linear array, each suchbook cover board structure comprising a first leaf board portion, asecond leaf board portion, and a spine board portion disposed betweensaid first and second leaf board portions and connected thereto byhinged portions;

2. coating means in overset relation to said conveyor means whereundersaid conveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, andwhich is adapted to apply a thin layer of adhesive material to theentire upwardly oriented surfaces of successive structures;

3. pro-bending means in overset relation to said conveyor meanswhereunder said conveyor means carries along said book cover boardstructures,

and which Eire-bending means is dis osed downstream o the coating meansand IS a apted to temporarily bend the book cover board structures aboutthe hinged portions;

4. spraying means in overset relation to said conveyor means whereundersaid conveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, andwhich spraying means is provided to spray adhesive material to the spineand hinge portions of the book cover board structures;

5. feeding means in overset relation to said conveyor means whereundersaid conveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, eachhaving a book block disposed thereon, and which is adapted to feed abook block onto each book cover board structure in parallel relationwith the first leaf board thereof;

6. folding means in overset relation to said conveyor means whereundersaid conveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, eachhaving a book block disposed thereon, and which is adapted to fold thesecond leaf board portion of each book cover board structure about thehinged spine board portion to form composite structure; and

7. bonding means for applying pressure to said composite structure tobond the book block to the first and second leaf board portions and thespine board portion of the book cover board structure.

11. Ari apparatus for making books according to claim 10 in which thecoating means comprises a plurality of glue rolls.

12. An apparatus for making books according to claim 10 wherein thefeeding means comprises a hopper for accepting the book blocks, and apiston-actuated shuttle for removing one book block from the hopper at atime, and alignment mechanism including spring fingers for guiding thebook block so removed from the hopper.

13. An apparatus for making books according to claim 10whereinthe'conveyor means includes a plurality of upstanding studs,eachstud having a recessed portion' adjacent the studs connection to theconveyor means for engaging the book cover board structures.

1. A method for making books including a book block bonded to a bookcover board structure, said method comprising the steps of;
 1. conveyinga succession of book cover board structures in open condition and inlinear array, each such book cover board structure comprising a firstleaf board portion, a second leaf board portion, and a spine boardportion disposed between said first and second leaf board portions andin hinged relation thereto;
 2. applying adhesive material to the entiresurface of one side of the book cover board structures successively asthey are conveyed;
 3. pre-bending the book cover board structures aboutthe hinged portions intermediate the spine board portion and the firstand second leaf board portions;
 4. selectively applying adhesivematerial to said spine board portion and said hinged portion; 5.conveying a succession of book blocks and placing each successive bookblock onto a book cover board structure as in the preceeding step hereofin parallel relation with the first leaf board thereof;
 6. folding thesecond leaf board portion about the hinged spine board portion to coverthe book block; and
 7. bonding the first and second leaf board portionsand the spine board portion of said book cover board structure to saidbook block.
 2. applying adhesive material to the entire surface of oneside of the book cover board structures successively as they areconveyed;
 2. A method for making books according to claim 1 in which thestep of applying adhesive material to one side of the book cover boardstructure is effected by rolling a thin layer of adhesive material ontothe book cover board structure.
 2. coating means in overset relation tosaid conveyor means whereunder said conveyor means carries along saidbook cover board structures, and which is adapted to apply a thin layerof adhesive material to the entire upwardly oriented surfaces ofsuccessive structures;
 2. applying a thin layer of adhesive material tothe entire upper side of the book cover board structure successively asthey are conveyed;
 3. pre-bending means in overset relation to saidconveyor means whereunder said conveyor means carries along said bookcover board structures, and which pre-bending means is disposeddownstream of the coating means and is adapted to temporarily bend thebook cover board structures about the hinged portions;
 3. temporarilybending each successive book cover board structure about said hingedportions;
 3. A method for making books according to claim 1 in which thestep of applying adhesive material to said hinged portions is effectedby spraying.
 3. pre-bending the book cover board structures about thehinged portions intermediate the spine board portion and the first andsecond leaf board portions;
 4. selectively applying adhesive material tosaid spine board portion and said hinged portion;
 4. A method for makingbooks according to claim 1 in which the step of bonding the book coverboard structure to the book block is effected by passing the book blockand cover board structure through a pair of press rolls.
 4. sprayingmeans in overset relation to said conveyor means whereunder saidconveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, and whichspraying means is provided to spray adhesive material to the spine andhinge portions of the book cover board structures;
 4. selectivelyapplying adhesive material to said spine board portion and said hingedportions;
 5. aligning and placing a book block on the first leaf boardstructure of each successive book cover board structure, each book blockcomprising a plurality of pages folded about and connected along acommon fold line, with said fold line being generally parallel to thespine portion of the associated book cover board structure;
 5. feedingmeans in overset relation to said conveyor means whereunder saidconveyor means carries along said book cover board structures, eachhaving a book block disposed thereon, and which is adapted to feed abook block onto each book cover board structure in parallel relationwith the first leaf board thereof;
 5. A method For making booksaccording to claim 1 in which the step of bonding the book cover boardstructure to the book block is effected by passing the book block andbook cover board structures through a pair of heated press rolls. 5.conveying a succession of book blocks and placing each successive bookblock onto a book cover board structure as in the preceeding step hereofin parallel relation with the first leaf board thereof;
 6. folding thesecond leaf board portion about the hinged spine board portion to coverthe book block; and
 6. folding means in overset relation to saidconveyor means whereunder said Conveyor means carries along said bookcover board structures, each having a book block disposed thereon, andwhich is adapted to fold the second leaf board portion of each bookcover board structure about the hinged spine board portion to formcomposite structure; and
 6. A method for making books including a bookblock bonded to a book cover board structure, said method comprising thesteps of:
 6. rotating the second leaf board portion approximately 1801/4 about the hinged spine board portion to thereby cover the bookblock; and
 7. A method for making books according to claim 6 whereinpressure is also applied along the hinged portion of the cover boardduring bonding of the book cover board structure to said book block inorder to accentuate a crease at the spine of the book.
 7. bonding thefirst and second leaf board portions and the spine board portion of saidbook cover board structure to said book block.
 7. bonding means forapplying pressure to said composite structure to bond the book block tothe first and second leaf board portions and the spine board portion ofthe book cover board structure.
 7. bonding the first and second leafboard portions and the spine board portion of said book cover boardstructure to said book block.
 8. A method for making books as in claim 6wherein the adhesive material is applied to the hinged portions byspraying.
 9. A method for making books according to claim 6 wherein thethin layer of adhesive material is applied to the upper side of the bookcover board structure by rolling.
 10. An apparatus for making booksincluding a book block bonded to a book cover board structure, saidapparatus comprising:
 11. An apparatus for making books according toclaim 10 in which the coating means comprises a plurality of glue rolls.12. An apparatus for making books according to claim 10 wherein thefeeding means comprises a hopper for accepting the book blocks, and apiston-actuated shuttle for removing one book block from the hopper at atime, and alignment mechanism including spring fingers for guiding thebook block so removed from the hopper.
 13. An apparatus for making booksaccording to claim 10 wherein the conveyor means includes a plurality ofupstanding studs, each stud having a recessed portion adjacent thestud''s connection to the conveyor means for engaging the book coverboard structures.